Welt-slitting machine.



J. BUSFIELD.- WELT SLITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0OT.22, 1909-.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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Patented Dec; 6, 1910.

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J. BUSFIELD. WELT SLITTINGI MAGHINE. APPLICATION IIL ED 'O0T. 22, 1909.

" Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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J. BUSFIE.LD-. WELT SLITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T.22,1909.

Patent ed Dec; 6, 1910.

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JAMES BUSFIELD,.OF HAVERI-IILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

WELT-SLITTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BUsFiELD, of Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Welt-slitting -Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for making a line of slits in the edge of a welt strip, such slits being inclined so as to form overlapping tongues which are enabled to slide over one another without launching, or to spread apart without destroying the continuity of the slitted edge when the strip is bent in being carried around the curved parts of a shoe when being applied thereto.

The object of the invention is to combine mechanism for accomplishing this result in connection with a splitting mechanism which cuts a strip from a side of leather and divides the strip into two welt strips which may have beveled edges; and to arrange the slitting knives in such a way as to enable them to act upon the beveled edges of two welt strips at once, making in'each a series of spaced slits which are inclined to the length of the strips and of which the depth is greater on one surface of the strip than on the other, to gain flexibility without loss of strength.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide in one machine instrumentalities for cutting a strip from a side of leather and dividing such strip longitudinally at an inclination, so as to make two welt strips, of which one edge of each is beveled, together with guiding means for conducting the two welt strips thus formed across one another so that they are finally guided in parallelism, with their beveled edges outward; and slitting knives arranged'to travel transversely to the paths of the strips and to act on the edges of the latter, such knives being slanted with respect to the strips and having their edges beveled to cause the inner limits of the slits to be inclined with respect to the length of the strips.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a machine in which the principles of my invention 'are embodied.

Figure 1 represents such a machine in plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the strips are made, guided and acted upon by the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 22, 1909.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910. Serial No. 524,038.

slitting instrumentalities. Fig. 4c is a crosssection on line l4 of Fig. 2, showing a detail of the welt strip guides. Fig. 5 is a' form of the slits produced by the machine.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the slitted strip shown in Fig. 6, said section being taken on the lines 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 1s a diagrammatic view showing the appearance of a slitted strip such as is produced by this machine when applied to a shoe. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the slitting knives and parts of the machine adjacent thereto. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9 as seen from the right of said figure. Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the same parts taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The machine comprises a base 1 having standards 2, 3, which support the guiding and cutting instrumentalities. On the forward end of the machine is a table 4 upon which a side or sheet of leather 5 is placed, as shown in Fig. 3. This side of leather is gripped between feed rolls 6, 7, and carried to knives 8 and 9, of which the former is arranged beside the feed rolls and cuts a strip therefrom, and the latter is arranged directly in rear of the nip of the rolls and divides the strip severed from the sheet of leather into two welt strips. The knife 9 is carried by a holder 10, having a shank 11 which is mounted rotarily in carrier 12, and secured by a set screw 13 so that it can be adjusted and held at any desired angle with respect to the plane of the strip, whereby the bevel of the edges of the welt strips may be governed. The carrier 12 is secured adjustably to a bracket 14 in such manner that it can be adjusted vertically, and the bracket is adjustably secured to the base of the ma chine in such manner as to be adjustable toward and from the strip. The means for securing the bracket in this manner consists of bolts 15 which pass through slots 16 in the foot of the bracket into the base 1.

The two strips split by the knife 9 pass from the feed rolls, one above the knife and the other below. The outer strip, which is represented by 17, passes below the knife when the latter is slanted, as shown in Fig. 2, while the other or inner strip 18 passes above the knife. These strips are received in guiding channels 19 and 20 respectively, which conduct them so that they cross each other and cause them finally to be brought into the same plane on opposite sides of a separating bar 21, with their beveled edges outward.

On emerging from the guides the strips are gripped between feed rolls 22, 23, which are peripherally grooved at 24, 25 respectively, as shown in Fig. 5, to receive the separating bar 21, and at the same time to grip the strips. These rolls deliver the strips upon a table 26 by which they are supported, while being cut by the slitting knives 27 and 28. The table 26 is slotted at 29, as shown in Fig. 9, to receive the lower feed roll 23 and has arms 30 and 31 which embrace such roll. This lower roll, as shown in Fig. 5, is narrower than the upper roll 22 and extends only sufiiciently far on each side of the separating bar to take the portions of the strips which are not penetrated by the slitting knives, the parts of the strips to he slit being supported by the arms 30 and 31 of the table, while the upper roll 22 bears on the strips over their entire width. The knives 27 and 28are arranged approximately in line with each other, and are carried by a single knife carrier so that they travel in unison. Their path of movement is transverse to the line of movement of the strips and in approximately the same plane therewith, the knives themselves being arranged on a slant or inclination with respect to this plane whereby the desired inclination of the slits in the strip, whereby to form the overlapping tongues, is obtained. The cutting edges of the knives are beveled as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 9, so as to be inclined relatively to the welt strips, whereby the incisions are caused to have a greater depth on one side of the strips than on the other. This feature is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, from which it appears that the slits have the greatest depth on tha surface of the strip which is the widest, and their bottoms are inclined from that surface to the other.

The construction and mode of operatio of the machine will now be considered. All the moving parts derive their motions from a main drive shaft 32, carrying a loose pulley 33 and a tight pulley 34 by which it is driven. This shaft has fixed to it worms 35 and 36, of which the former meshes with the worm wheel 37 on the shaft 38 of the feed roll 6. The shafts of this roll and of the cooperating roll 7 carry intermeshing gears 39 and 40, by which they are caused to rotate in unison. These shafts are journaled in pivotally mounted holders 41, which have knuckles connected by pivot 42 with a rod 43, which is drawn outward by a spring 44, so that the rolls are yieldingly pressed together upon the work. The other worm 36 ward and from the roll 23, and is compressed toward the latter by a spring 50. n

An adjustable stop 50 limits the approach of the rolls. The slitting knives 27 and 28 are driven from the shaft 32 by means of a belt 51 passing over a pulley 52 on the shoulder and over a pulley 53 on a countershaft 54.. This counter-shaft has an eccentric stud 55, carrying a block 56, which works in a slot 57 of a slide 58, the latter constituting the knife carrier and having arms or brackets 59, 60 in which the knives are clamped, said brackets each having a groove to receive one side of its respective knife and carrying a clamping member 61 operated by a screw 62.

In connection with the table 4 there is provided a guide 63 which holds the leather against the table and causes it to pass into the space between the rolls 6 and 7 On the sides of the guide 20 are mounted spring arms 64 and 65, which carry inwardly projecting guides 66, 67 and act to hold the divided strips both against the separating bar 21, and down so that they will pass between the rolls 22 and 23.

The construction of the feed rolls 22 and 23 in which the latter has the narrow workengaging faces, is a feature of great importance, as it enables the slitting knives to act upon the strips before the latter have left. the feed rolls, and while they are stillheld down by the upper roll 22. As previously described, the faces of this roll on each side of the separating and guiding bar 21 are of the full width of the strips, and thereby they serve to press down the strips while the knives are acting. The pressure of the upper roll being thus applied during the slitting operation prevents the strips from being distorted or lifted up in case the knives should become dull or the leather be of less than the usual stiffness. That is,the upper roll presses down on the strips and holds them extended, while the knives are acting. This effect could not be secured unless the lower roll 23 were made narrower to permit the knives to have their full stroke without striking. of the knives intersects that portion of the. lower roll which projects into theslot 29 of the table and the knives are only prevented from striking the roll by the fact that their travel inward is limited to such an extent that they come to rest before quite reaching the roll. They are enabled, however, to make incisions of the necessary depth on account of the fact that the portions of the strip which are to be slitted As appears from Fig. 1, the path 1 project over the table beyond the edges of the roll. Another important feature results from the fact that the knives travel in transverse grooves 30*, 31 in those portions 30 and 31 of the table which lie beside the feed roll 23. That is, the lower side of each knife is slightly below the supporting surface of the table. This has the effect of causing the table to cooperate with the knives as a shear, causing the knives to make a clean cut in the strips, as well as to cause the cuts to extend wholly from one surface to the other of the strips.

The bevel or slant of the cutting edge of the knife by which the incisions are caused to be tapered at their inner limits is of great importance, as the tapering of the incisions, by which they are of greater depth on one side or surface of the strip than on the other, gives the strip a character and a flexibility so that it can be more readily carried around a sharply pointed toe, while at the same time preserving the strength of the strip.

I cla.im,

1. The combination of splitting instrumentalities arranged to sever a strip from a sheet of material and divide the same into two welt strips, and slitting knives for forming incisions .in the edges of such strips.

2. The combination of splitting instrumentalities arranged to cut a strip from a sheet of material and divide the same into two welt strips having beveled edges, guiding means for reversing the relative positions of the strips thus split so that their beveled edges will be outward, and means for making incisions in the beveled edges of the strips.

3. The combination with welt splitting means constructed and arranged to form a plurality of welt strips having their adjacent edges beveled, of guiding means arranged to cause said strips to cross each other, whereby their beveled edges are outward, and slitting knives mounted and operated to cut the beveled edges of said strips slantwise of the strips.

4. A welt-slitting machine comprising a slitting knife movable reciprocatively, and means for feeding a welt strip having a beveled edge past the cutting edge of said knife, said feeding means being arranged to hold the strip with its beveled edge toward the knife and its width in the line of travel of the knife.

5. A machine for slitting or slashing the edge of a welt strip comprising a knife, means for reciprocating said knife in a direction transverse to its cutting edge, and means for feeding the welt strip past said knife in a direction transverse to the line of reciprocations thereof, said feeding means being arranged to guide the welt with its beveled edge toward the knife, whereby such edge is cut or slashed.

6. A machine for slitting or slashing welt strips comprising a knife, means for reciprocating said knife in a direction transverse to its cutting edge, and guiding and feeding means for a welt strip, said guiding and feeding means being arranged to hold the strip with its beveled edge toward the knife and to support such beveled edge while being entered by the knife.

7. A welt-slitting machine comprising means for holding a welt strip, and a slitting knife guided so as to travel at right angles to the length of said strip and in line with the width thereof for making incisions in an edge of the strip, such edge being beveled, and said holding means being arranged to support said beveled edge and prevent the displacement thereof by the slitting knife prior to the entry thereof into the strip.

8. A machine for slitting or slashing the beveled edge of a beveled welt strip, comprising a slitting knife having a cutting edge on its end, means for reciprocating said knife, means for guiding and feeding the strip past said knife in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement thereof, with its beveled edge next to the knife and its width lying in the line of travel of the knife, said knife being slanted with respect to the line of feed of the strip, whereby to make inclined incisions therein, and said guiding and feeding means including a support for the strip having a groove to receive the side of the knife, whereby the latter is enabled to extend below the strip and cut entirely through the thickness of the same.

9. A welt-slitting machine comprising means for holding a welt strip and a slitting knife guided to travel transversely to the length of said strip and in line with the width thereof, said knife having its cutting edge arranged on a slant with respect to the length of the strip and extending beyond both surfaces of the strip, whereby to make inclined incisions in an edge of the strip extending entirely through the thickness of the same.

10. A welt-slitting machine, comprising means for guiding and feeding a welt strip, said means including a support for the strip, a slitting knife,.and means for reciprocating said knife in a direction transverse to the line of feed of the strip and in line with the width thereof, to carry its cutting edge toward and from the adjacent edge of the strip, said support having a recess to receive a side of the knife, whereby the latter is enabled to intersect both sides of the strip and cut entirely through the thickness thereof.

11. A welt-slitting machine comprising a reciprocating knife having a cutting edge on its forward end extending transversely to the direction of reciprocation thereof,

means for supporting a welt strip having a beveled edge with its length extending transversely to the line of reciprocation of the knife and its width in such line, and holding the strip with its beveled edge to ward the knife, the latter being at an angle to the length of the strip and extending across both sides or surfaces of the strip, and the supporting means being arranged to engage both surfaces of the strip adjacent to the knife, whereby to prevent deflection of the beveled edge.

12. A welt-slitting machine comprising means for holding a plurality of welt strips side by side, a knife carrier, and a pair of knives secured upon said carrier in line with each other, and approximately in the plane of the strips, the latter being held between the cutting edges of said knives.

13. A welt-slitting machine comprising feed rolls arranged to grip a welt strip between them, means for driving said feed rolls to feed the strip, and a slitting knife mounted to travel in a line substantially parallel to the axes of said rolls and intersecting the line of feed of the strip, whereby said knife is caused to make incisions in an edge of the strip in a direction extending from such incised edge toward the opposite edge thereof.

14. A welt-slitting machine comprising a table adapted to support a welt strip, cooperating feed rolls. one of which extends into a slot of said table, a guide adjacent to the peripheries of said rolls, the roll which intersects the table having an engaging surface beside said guide of less width than the strip, whereby the latter is caused toextend from said roll upon the table, and a slitting knife arranged to travel across the table transversely to the direction of travel of the strip thereover.

15. A welt-slitting machine comprising a table adapted to support a welt strip, a pair of cooperating feed rolls, one of which extends into a slot in said table, a slitting knife arranged to reciprocate across the table approximately parallel to the axes of such rolls. and guiding means arranged to guide a strip to said rolls in such manner that an edge of the strip projects from the face of the feed roll over. the adjacent surface of the table.

16. In a welt-slitting machine, a table adapted to support a welt strip and upper and lower strip feeding rolls, the lower of which is located so that its strip-engaging portion is beside a portion of said table, whereby the portion of the strip engaged by the rolls is adapted to extend at the same time from. the lower feed roll across the adj acent part of the table.

17. A welt-slitting machine comprising a reciprocating knife carrier, a pair of knives carried thereby having their cutting edges strips between said knives so that the edge of each strip may be cut by one of said knives.

19. A welt-slitting machine comprising strip-feeding means adapted to hold and feed a plurality of welt strips at once,

knives arranged on opposite sides of said strips, and means for reciprocating said knives transversely of the strlps so that when reciprocated 1n one direction one of the knives will enter an edge of one strip and s when reciprocated in the opposite direction the other knife will act upon the other strip.

20. In a welt-slitting machine a welt strip supporting table, upper and lower feed rolls, the lower of which is contained in a slot in said table, a strip guide between said rolls extending in the feeding direction between the end faces of the rolls, a knife-holder and a pair of knives carried by said holder, and reciprocated thereby across the table, said knives having their cutting edges opposite to each other and on opposite sides of said guide.

21. The combination of a splitting-knife arranged to divide a strip longitudinally at an inclination to the plane thereof, whereby to form two welt strips, each having a beveled edge, guides to which said strips pass respectively above and below said splitting knife arranged to shift the strips so that the beveled edge of each is outside, a second pair of feed rolls to which said strips are delivered, and slitting knives arranged adjacent to said second feed rolls for making incisions in the beveled edges of the strips.

22. In a welt-slitting machine the combination with a pair of feed rolls of a slitting knife arranged to reciprocate in the same general direction as the axes of the rolls, one of said rolls being arranged to overlie the path of said knife, whereby to hold the welt strip while the same is being acted upon by the knife.

23. The combination in a welt-slitting machine of a pair of feed rolls, a table arranged adjacent to said feed rolls, and having a portion extending beside one of them, the other of said rolls being of greater axial extent and lying partially over the table, and a slitting knife arranged to travel across said table and arranged to act upon a welt strip on the part thereof which is in engagement with the roll of greater extent.

24. The combination in a Welt-slitting machine of a pair of cooperating feed rolls, a supporting table having a portion lying beside the lower of said rolls, across which portion the upper roll extends beyond the lower end of the roll so as to bear upon a Welt strip over substantially the entire width of the strip, supported in part by the lower roll and by the table, and a slitting-knife mounted to travel across the table beneath said upper roll so as to penetrate the edge of a strip in the zone thereof which is acted upon by the upper roll.

25. In a welt-slitting machine a table, upper and lower feed rolls beside the lower of which a portion of said table extends so that a welt strip may be supported at once by said roll and said table, a knife mounted to reciprocate across the table toward and from said feed roll, and an upper feed roll extending beyond the lower feed roll over the table so as to bear upon the portion of the strip which is entered by the knife.

26. In a welt-slitting machine, a supporting table having a groove across its face and I a slitting knife arranged at a slant to the plane of said table and having one of its side edges located in said groove, said knife being mounted with provision for moving longitudinally of such groove.

27. In a welt-slitting machine means for feeding a welt strip, a supporting table across which said strip is fed, having a groove extending transversely of the direction of feed of the strip, and a slitting knife having a side contained in said groove and projecting on a slant over the supporting surface of the table, said knife being operated in the direction of such groove, and such groove causing the knife to have a shearing action upon the strip.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES BUSFIELD. Witnesses ARTHUR H. BROWN, P. W. PEZZETTI. 

